Amusement device



Dec. 12, 1939. H. SINGER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed July 1 1939 i v zlwuc n-fo o hcsnry Singer Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic signor of one-half to Alice H. F.

Territory of Hawaii Lum, Honolulu,

Application July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,558

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an amusement device and has relation more particularly to a device of this kind comprising the use of a tethered projectile, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character-constructed and operated in a manner to provide amusement yet at the same time requiring skill of play in its use.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improvedamusement device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the article rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be herein-- ment device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the second position of one of the paddles indicated by broken lines.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, l denotes a flat table or platform preferably circular in form and which has secured to its axial center a handle member 2 substantially at right angles thereto. Secured, as at 3, to the outer face of the table or plate I at the axial center thereof is an end portion of a tether or cord 4 of desired length and which is non-elastic. The opposite or outer end portion of this tether or cord 4 is securely fastened to a relatively heavy non-elastic member B preferably cylindrical in form. At desired points around the periphery thereof the table or platform I has hingedly secured thereto a plurality of paddles 5. In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing I show these paddles 5 as three in number but it is to be understood that there may be as many of such paddles as desired and of course as can be properly employed with the table or platform I. Each of these paddles 5 has its inner end portion connected to the table or platform I by a spring hinge 6 of a type to constantly urge the paddle 5 upwardly to a position substantially at right angles to the table or platform I as is indicated by broken lines in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The hinge 6 is connected to the upper surface of the table or platform I and to the upper surface of the adjacent inner end portion of the paddle 5 whereby a butt joint is provided to limit the downward swinging movement of the paddle 5 51 when the upper face or surface thereof is substantially flush with the upper surface of the table or platform I. When the paddle 5 is depressed andradially extended from the table or platform I it is received within the inner portion of a pro-p- 10 erly formed frame F preferably of wire. The free extremities of the inner side arms of the frame F are impinged withinthe peripheral face 7 of the table or platform I whereby the frame F is effectively maintained in desired position. Itis I5. believed to be obvious, however, that other means may be employed for maintaining this frame F in place. l v

The outer portion of the frame F is restricted, as at 8, to provide an outer loop member 9, the inher portion of which constitutes a cross bar Ill. Pivotally mounted upon the bar 10 is an arm I! extending inwardly from a target plate l2. Coe acting with this target plate I2 is a spring M which constantly urges the plate l2 upwardly to 5 the limit of its movement in such direction by contact of the outer portion, of the target plate l2 from below with the outer portion I 5 of the. loop 9 and which portion [5 is herein disclosed as being substantially straight. The spring M in the present embodiment of my invention is of a leaf type although it is to be understood that it may be otherwise formed as preferred. It is also to be stated that the tension of the spring I4 is sufficient so that the latch extension lb of the arm I0 of the target plate will hold the paddle 5 in its depressed or radial position. This latch exten-' sion I6 is preferably semi-elastic.

The target plates l2 each carry a separate score indication I 1 together with some fanciful or comical name such as Topsy, Sambo or the like, and the associated paddles 5 preferably carry corresponding indications and other matter. It is also to be pointed out that the various loops 9 and, of course, the associated target plates I 2 are of different sizes, the smaller the size of the target plates the higher the score indications.

In use the member or ball B is projected to the limit allowed by the tether or cord 4 and on the return of the member or ball B the player endeavors to manipulate the table or platform I in a manner to cause the member or ball B to strike one of the target plates l2 so that the resultant impact will swing the plate I 2 downwardly sufiicient to release the latch extension I6 from the associated depressed paddle 5 whereupon such paddle 5 under the influence of its spring hinge 6 will swing upwardly into its raised position. The player will be given credit for the score as denoted by the score indication IT on the target plate or on the associated paddle 5.

The skill of the game is to cause the member or ball B to impact the smaller of the target plates 12 because, as hereinbefore stated, the smaller the plate 12 the higher the score indication l1.

It is to be stated that comical or other character pictures and names are intended to be reproduced upon the paddles 5 and the target plates l2 but as the scope of such characters is unlimited such showing is omitted from the drawing.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an amusement device constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An amusement device comprising a platform having a handle, a plurality of paddles, spring hinges for connecting said paddles to the peripheral portion of the platform, said hinges operating to swing the paddles upwardly, target plates pivotally supported by the platform adjacent to the paddles when in their lowered position, said target plates having means to engage the paddles to maintain the same lowered, a tether having one end portion secured to the central portion of the platform, and a Weighted member carried by the outer end portion of the tether, impact of the weighted member on a target plate releasing the associated paddle.

2. An amusement device comprising a platform having a handle, a plurality of paddles, spring hinges for connecting said paddles to the peripheral portion of the platform, said hinges operating to swing the paddles upwardly, target plates pivotally supported by the platform adjacent to the paddles when in their lowered position, said target plates havingmeans to engage the paddles to maintain the same lowered, a tether having one end portion secured to the central portion of the platform, and a weighted member carried by the outer end portion of the tether, impact of the weighted member on a target plate releasing the associated paddle, the handle for the platform being at the axial center thereof and substantially at right angles thereto, the tether being secured to the face of the platform remote from the handle.

3. An amusement device comprising a platform having a handle, a plurality of paddles, spring hinges for connecting said paddles to the peripheral portion of the platform, said hinges operating to swing the paddles upwardly, target plates pivotally supported by the platform adjacent to the paddles when in their lowered position, said target plates having means to engage the paddles to maintain the same lowered, a tether having one end portion secured to the central portion of the platform, and a weighted member carried by the outer end portion of the tether, impact of the weighted member on a target plate releasing the associated paddle, the target plates being of different sizes.

4. An amusement device comprising a platform having a handle, a plurality of paddles, spring hinges for connecting said paddles to the peripheral portion of the platform, said hinges operating to swing to paddles upwardly, target plates pivotally supported by the platform adjacent to the paddles when in their lowered position, said target plates having means to engage the paddles to maintain the same lowered, a tether having one end portion secured to the central portion of the platform, and a weighted member carried by the outer end portion of the tether, impact of the weighted member on a target plate releasing the associated paddle, the portion of each of the target plates contacting a paddle being semi-elastic.

HENRY SINGER. 

